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Raymond Chan Wine Reviews provides a unique service by publishing independent, assessment-based, critical reviews in a style that is easily understood by the wine enthusiast, wine reseller and wine producer alike. You’ll find tasting notes on many newly-released wines here. The wine reviews are free to access and use, whether you are buying or selling wine. I trust my reviews are useful and enjoyable. – Raymond Chan

FEATURED REVIEWS

The Charles Wiffen wines of Marlborough are quiet achievers. They are absolutely classical in expression and stylish without any extreme characters to make them overt and showy. This is the way Charles and Sandi prefer their wines, to drink easily and to satisfy without fuss...READ MORETiki 2017 ‘Estate’, Single Vineyard’, 2015 ‘Koro’ and 2017 Maui Releases14 December, 2017

The Tiki Wine and Vineyards operation of Royce and Sue McKean has well defined brands and tiers for their wines. The ‘Maui’ wines are slightly more approachable in drinkability and price, but have a similar wine style to the Tiki ‘Estate’ wines... READ MORELake Hayes Central Otago 2017 Pinot Gris and 2016 Pinot Noir13 December, 2017

Lake Hayes is a secondary label of Amisfield in Central Otago. The wine are made in an earlier-drinking fruit-forward style, and designed to be lively, with balance. The range consists of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and a Noble...READ MOREWild River North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 201713 December, 2017

Wild River is the value and accessible brand of Catherine Keith and Tony Rutherford who operate Mount Brown Estates in the Waipara Valley, North Canterbury. Here, I review the 2017 Wold River Sauvignon Blanc from what is deemed a “challenging vintage”... READ MOREFramingham 2017 Sweet Riesling Wines12 December, 2017

The Framingham Winery is recognised as arguably the best producer of the Riesling variety in the country. This is based on winemaker Dr Andrew Hedley’s obsession with the grape, and his stupendously high quality and fascinating releases based on the full range of pradikat levels... READ MOREPaddy Borthwick 2017 Riesling and Pinot Gris12 December, 2017

Paddy Borthwick is one of the stalwarts of the Wairarapa winegrowing community. His experience has seen him making wine for over 35 years, and this has given him his quiet demeanour and strong, no-fuss work ethic. As part of the family Te Whanga farming business...READ MOREAskerne 2017 and 2016 Rose and White Releases, with a 2014 Syrah and 2015 Sweet Red11 December, 2017

John and Kathryn Loughlin established their Askerne Winery in 1993 planting 11 ha of only white varieties so as not to conflict with John’s father’s Waimarama Estate wine venture just down the road on the Te Mata – Mangatertere Road... READ MORE